The Fight to Preserve Wardenclyffe

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The Fight to Preserve Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Laboratory
Marianne Macy
Excerpt from Margaret Cheney’s Tesla: Man Out of Time
(Barnes and Noble Books, 1981, pp. 173-175)
The world system for broadcasting—a concept designed to incorporate almost every aspect of modern communications—was all over but
the mourning. Yet as long as the tower stood, Tesla continued his efforts to complete it.
Exactly when all the workers left, no one could say. Thomas R. Bayles, the general passenger agent of the railroad station just across the
road from the abandoned plant, only noticed that passengers had stopped getting off there. A caretaker remained on duty for a time. When curious journalists or research engineers showed up they were allowed to climb to the tower top with the sweeping view of Long Island Sound.
For all that the tower looked so light, it was built entirely without metal, even down to the wooden pegs holding together the wooden uprights
and cross members. After abandoning the plan for covering the dome with a copper sheathing, Tesla had installed a removable disk through
which a beam of radiation could be projected to the zenith.
The visitors found the laboratory filled with curiously complex apparatus. In addition to much glass-blowing equipment there were a complex machine shop with eight lathes, X-ray devices, a great variety of high-frequency Tesla coils, one of his original radio-controlled robot boats
and exhibit cases filled with thousands of bulbs and tubes. There were an office, library, instrument room, electrical generators and transformers, and great stocks of wire and cable. But after the watchmen left, vandals entered, broke things, ransacked files, emptied papers on the floor
and trampled them.
“It is not too much to say,” wrote a Brooklyn Eagle reporter, “that the place has often been viewed in the same light as the people of a few
centuries ago viewed the dens of the alchemists or the still more ancient wells of the sorcerers. An atmosphere of mystery hung over the place,
an unearthly influence seemed to be radiated from the alembic. . .as if drawn down from interstellar space and spread over the countryside to
inspire wonder and awe in the minds of the nearby farms and villagers. . .”
. . .Marconi, with Carl F. Braun of Germany, won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1909 for their “separate but parallel development of the wireless telegraph.”
Never for the rest of his life would Tesla give up on his concepts of power transmission and broadcasting. It was not a dream, he declared,
“but a simple feat of scientific electrical engineering, only expensive—blind, fainthearted, doubting world.”
Excerpt from Marc Seifer’s Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla—Biography of a Genius
(Birch Lane Press, 1996, pp. 291-292)
In the last week of July [1903], just days before men came to cart away part of his equipment, the inventor fashioned a way to couple his
behemoth and fire it up. As pressures reached their maximum, with the cupola fully charged, a dull thunder rumbled from the site, alerting the
hamlet that something was about to happen.
Strange Light At Tesla’s Tower
From the top of Mr. Tesla’s lattice work tower on the north shore of Long Island, there was a vivid display of light several nights
last week. This phenomena [sic] provoked the curiosity of the few people who live nearby, but the proprietor of the Wardencliffe
[sic] plant declined to explain the spectacle when inquiries were addressed to him. (New York Herald Tribune, July 19, 1903)
Tesla’s mushroom-shaped citadel spewed forth a pyrotechnic eruption that could be gleaned not only by those who lived nearby but also
by the populace inhabiting the shores of Connecticut, across Long Island Sound. But by the end of July the tower fell silent, never to raise its
radio cry again.
n terms of science mysteries, one of the most intriguing
sites for over a hundred years now is that of Nikola Tesla’s
Wardenclyffe Laboratory, some seventy miles outside of New
York City. The brick structure of the lab itself, designed by
architect Stanford White, sits on sixteen acres near Long
Island Sound in East Shoreham, Long Island. While the fate
of Wardenclyffe—the laboratory where radio broadcasting
would have started twenty years before it actually reached
commercial status in the United States and where wireless
electricity might have started a century ago—hangs in the
balance, Tesla’s name is carried forward and he has become
a sort of cultural icon. Rock star David Bowie played Tesla in
the 2006 film “The Prestige” (starring Hugh Jackman,
Christian Bale and Michael Caine). The Tesla Motor
Company (www.teslamotors.com) is manufacturing beautiful, high-end electric cars to such buyers as movie star George
I
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Clooney, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, television host David Letterman, and a long list of celebrities.
Company investors include Google founders Larry Page and
Sergie Brinn, after initial investment by Paypal cofounder
Elon Musk, who now runs the company. Tesla’s name is
memorialized in books, software programs, a rock band, an
entire Brooklyn Academy of Music opera by Laurie
Anderson, a superconducting linear accelerator in Germany,
and inventions we use every day all over the world, involving AC electricity, radio, radar, fluorescent lighting and
motors. But Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Laboratory, with its 187foot tall tower, is perhaps the most haunting and compelling
image of a dream that might have been.
Nikola Tesla referred to his world broadcast center as
being capable of “changing the planet into a human brain,”
much the same way that technology writers such as Nicholas
INFINITE ENERGY • ISSUE 89 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
Carr (The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google,
which was to draw attention in communities across the
W.W. Norton, 2008) talk about internet technology turning
country recognizing sites worthy of preservation,” Jane
into the worldwide computer, the difference being that Carr
Alcorn relates. “We had over 150 people come out, from the
is writing in 2008 and Tesla
school superintendent, to famicame up with this in 1900.
lies, and even a dog named
Tesla was finally recognized as
Tesla. The local government of
being the inventor of radio by
Shoreham Village, the civic
the U.S. Supreme Court in
association, the town council1943, a few months after his
woman and supervisor, a repredeath. But he had the technolosentative from the county execgy ready to broadcast at
utive office and a county legisWardenclyffe. “Marconi was
lator, and our New York state
transmitting Morse code, not
senator, all pledged support for
continuous wave frequency,”
the project.” Indeed, driving
notes Marc Seifer. In Wizard,
into the village, one is greeted
Seifer detailed the innovations
by signs declaring, “Welcome to
and patents of Tesla that related
Shoreham!” with an image of
to broadcasting, among them
the Tesla tower on the signs. In
his work with John Hayes
September, Alcorn nominated
Hammond which led to a
Tesla for inclusion in the Long
patent on a virtually unlimited
Island Technology Hall of
Wardenclyffe Tower and Laboratory
number of wireless channels (the same
Fame; Tesla will be inducted into the Hall
technology as cell phones), and the 1904
of Fame in March 2010.
work of Dr. Arthur Korn, a Munich electri“Marc Alessi, who has represented our
cal engineer who successfully transmitted
community in the Assembly since 2005,
wire photos. Korn is often credited with
grew up on Long Island and lives here
being the inventor of the television tube,
with his wife and two children, and has
and his apparatus, wrote Seifer, utilized
been very enthusiastic about the idea of a
“Tesla currents.”
historic and science museum here.”
“He should have built the broadcast
Alcorn continued. “In October 2009 he
center at Niagara Falls and jumped the
went to Belgrade, where the Tesla museum
energy to England. He had calculated
is located and Tesla is a national hero.
nodal points all over the world. I don’t
There he met with the museum administhink Wardenclyffe would have successtrators, who offered a loan of Tesla materifully broadcast electric power, that he
al when the museum opens.”
could have lit up homes from it, but I do
“Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe laboratory
think he would have succeeded with a
is such a fantastic historic landmark that it
global communication system. Tesla
would be shameful not to preserve it,”
would have started radio at Wardenclyffe
declares New York State Assemblyman
about 1904,” Seifer explains, speculating
Marc Alessi.
Nikola Tesla, 1920
that perhaps a smaller effort, broadcasting
“I would definitely give my Tesla
first from Long Island to Connecticut, might have been a
archives to a Tesla Museum located at Wardenclyffe,”
more realistic start and not resulted in the disastrous ending
declares Marc Seifer. His book Wizard took fifteen years to
with J.P. Morgan.
research and write, during which time he traveled to Tesla’s
“Tesla never punted,” sighs Marc Seifer. “He wanted all or
town of birth in Smiljan, Croatia, to the Tesla Museum in
nothing; that’s what bugs me about Tesla. . .”
Serbia, to numerous sites in the U.S. where Tesla archives are
In May of this year, New York Times science writer William
located, as well as to Niagara Falls (site of two Tesla statues),
Broad’s article (“A Battle to Preserve a Visionary’s Bold Failure,” where Tesla and Westinghouse harnessed the power of the
www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/science/05tesla.html) covered
falls to electrify the entire northeast, to Colorado Springs
the background of Wardenclyffe and the fact that Agfa, the
and to the site of Wardenclyffe where Tesla’s most important
photo company who owns the site, has now completed a
story takes place. Seifer’s biography of Tesla added to the
mandated Superfund site cleanup and was putting the propinformation given in previous works, such as John J.
erty up for sale. The article portrays people involved with a
O’Neill’s Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla (1944) and
decade long effort to have the Wardenclyffe site designated
Margaret Cheney’s Tesla: Man Out of Time (1981, reference
as a historical landmark and have a museum and science
above), detailing more of the friendship and work collaboracenter built on the property.
tion between Tesla and Stanford White. “The fact that
One of the individual’s quoted in the Times piece was Jane
Wardenclyffe is a Stanford White building alone makes it a
Alcorn, president of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe
historic landmark,” Seifer says. “It’s hard to believe that New
effort. She provided an update of events that have transpired
York, one of the richest states in the country, can’t find the
since May.
money to turn Wardenclyffe into a museum.” Seifer’s long
“Two weeks after the article ran, we had a National Trust
relationships with the American-residing community of
for Historic Preservation event declaring ‘This Place Matters,’
Yugoslavians who have long promoted interest in Tesla
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include friendships with surviving Tesla nephew William
Wardenclyffe site to be purchased from Agfa. Alessi reports
Terbo, Alexander Marincic, former head of the Tesla Museum
that the Department of Environmental Conservation has
in Serbia, and Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, president of the Tesla
from six months to a year to give a final review on the cleanMemorial Society of New York, whose organization fought to
up of the land before it can officially be sold, and a county
get a Tesla plaque on the site of the Hotel New Yorker on
appraisal will likely wait on that review. He believes that
34th Street in Manhattan, where Tesla lived the final years of
funds can be raised to purchase the land.
his life (www.teslamemorialsociety.org).
“There is a tremendous interest in a local and internaAnother Tesla museum supporter is Bill Wysock, whose
tional community of people who understand the enormous
company Tesla Technology Research
significance of Nikola Tesla’s contribution
(www.ttr.com) manufactures giant, extraorto technology and innovation,” Alessi says.
dinary Tesla coils that have appeared in
“While Tesla was a naturalized American
museums, theme parks such as Walt Disney
citizen, his birth place was in Serbia, where
park exhibits, MCA Universal’s Studio Tour,
he is an enormous hero. His face is on the
movies, television shows, and media outlets
paper currency there. While I traveled
worldwide. He has offered the donation of
there, the idea of the Wardenclyffe site
a giant Tesla coil for the Tesla Science
being lost is horrifying, as it is to people all
Center at Wardenclyffe.
over the world, and the people who want to
Shortly after the Times article ran in May,
contribute come from all over the world. I
Seifer also swung into action, writing to
have discussed the creation of a sister museGovernor David Paterson of New York and
um on Long Island that would be a sister
meeting with Petar Ljubicic, Council
museum to the Tesla museum in Belgrade.
General of the Croatian government, who
It would be a center for education and techsaid his government would be happy to
nology as well as an important historic
contribute to the creation of a Tesla muselandmark.” The acquisition of the
um at the Wardenclyffe site. “Tesla was
Wardenclyffe site is the primary focus first.
raised in Croatia and he was a great unifyAlcorn and her board have been able to
ing character, also proud of his Serbian herhave a number of events and programs near
itage. It was this kind of background that
the site, such as lectures by biographer Marc
seeded his ideas for a world communication
Seifer, an appearance by Tesla’s nephew
center through technology,” says Seifer.
William Terbo, and filming of part of a lecLjubicic attended a lecture Seifer gave at the A vision of the design of Wardenclyffe. ture series they held by Robert Uth, who did
Open Center in New York City
a PBS documentary titled “Tesla:
about Tesla and Wardenclyffe.
Master of Lightning.” Dr. James
Meanwhile, the work of Jane
Corum and Kenneth Corum,
Alcorn and her board to create
physicists who have done years
the Tesla Science Center at
of research and publishing on
Wardenclyffe—combining with
Tesla technology, have presented
partners at other Tesla groups
there. Alcorn has discussed plans
such as Gary Peterson in
to have events at the Tesla
Colorado’s 21st Century Books (a
Museum at Wardenclyffe that
publishing and licensing arm of
will be broadcast on the internet
historical Tesla material) and the
in keeping with the original
Tesla Memorial Society of New
world broadcasting center plans
York—have received offers of
Tesla wanted.
support from all levels of governIn early 2010, a new wave of
ment, from the local civic organactivity towards acquisition will
ization to the federal level.
commence. After more than a
“At the current time, the state
decade of working towards acquihistorical status must be applied
sition of the site, the non-profit
The lab building is all that remains at Wardenclyffe.
for by the owner, which is Agfa,”
Tesla
Science
Center
at
This photo was taken from atop the tower in 1914
says Jane Alcorn. Other Long
Wardenclyffe
group
intends
to
(before the tower was razed in 1917).
Island science institutes, such as
continue until the dream
Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook
becomes a reality. Tax deductible donations are being sought
University as well as other science museums in New York, are
to assist the group in purchasing the Wardenclyffe site and
participating in discussions about the future of the site.
to later construct a museum and science center. Visit their
Assemblyman Marc Alessi arranged a meeting on
website (www.teslasciencecenter.org) for more information
December 11, 2009, in which he drew together representaor to donate; donations can also be sent via mail to:
tives of Jane Alcorn’s Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe,
Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe
members of the Brookhaven town government, and private
P.O. Box 552
individuals with whom Alessi had discussed the possibility
Shoreham, NY 11786
of their making a six month to a year bridge loan to match
the $850,000 from New York State in order for the
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INFINITE ENERGY • ISSUE 89 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
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